The Edmonton Oilers solidified their depth at centre when they re-signed Jason Dickinson to a five-year deal in June worth $4 million per season.

Dickinson was acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks just before the trade deadline last March, and he immediately brought his defensive savvy down the middle, while giving Oilers fans a glimpse of his offensive touch in the playoffs.

With that in mind, as Dickinson officially calls Oilersnation home for the foreseeable future, let’s take a closer look at five interesting facts about the veteran centreman that you may not know.

Dickinson was not only known for his hockey smarts, but his book smarts, too

Dickinson is well known for his defensive smarts on the ice, consistently shutting down the opposition’s best lines, which is a big reason why the Oilers locked him up to a five-year deal in June.

But did you know Dickinson was known for his smarts off the ice as well?

Dickinson played junior hockey with the Guelph Storm from 2011-2015, and in February 2013, he was named the OHL Academic Player of the Month for demonstrating excellence both on and off the ice. CHL.ca described Dickinson as a “self-motivated and disciplined learner” who was a quiet leader in the classroom.

His teachers described him as a “great student” who was focused, responsible, and respectful, while he maintained an 82% average in his Grade 12 university preparation courses.

Also, Dickinson received further academic recognition when he was awarded the Storm’s Paul Fendley Memorial Scholastic Player of the Year Award in 2013, given to the player who best combines academic achievement, hard work in the classroom, and success on the ice.

Additionally, throughout his Guelph Storm career, Dickinson was also recognized for his involvement in the community, becoming an active participant in the team’s Read to Succeed and FunFit programs, visiting schools throughout Guelph and Wellington County.

Dickinson wore the C for his junior team

Dickinson tallied 231 points in 253 regular-season games........

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